Man City vs Aston Villa LIVE: Premier League result and final score as Riyad Mahrez penalty wraps up win
Man City 3-1 Aston Villa: The hosts were dominant as goals from Rodri, Gundogan and Mahrez saw the champions close the gap to three points of Arsenal
Manchester City produced a defiant response to the Premier League’s charge sheet as they comfortably beat Aston Villa 3-1 to close to within three points of leaders Arsenal on Sunday.
Goals by Rodri, Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez put the result beyond doubt by halftime as City got back on track following last weekend’s loss at Tottenham Hotspur.
With the club facing more than 100 charges relating to alleged financial misconduct the home fans were in belligerent mood at the Etihad Stadium with a series of ironic chants.
Pep Guardiola’s side needed only four minutes to take the lead when Rodri headed in Riyad Mahrez’s corner and they were cruising when Erling Haaland set up Gundogan in the 39th minute.
Villa were left with mission impossible when Mahrez tucked away a penalty in first-half stoppage time after Jacob Ramsey was adjudged to have tripped former Villa player Jack Grealish.
Ollie Watkins scored for the third successive league match to reduce the deficit on the hour mark and Villa also struck the woodwork through substitute Jhon Duran late on but City never looked in any real danger of dropping points.
.Earlier, late goals from Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho earned Manchester United a hard-fought 2-0 victory at Leeds. It meant United leap-frogged City into second place, but the Premier League champions then responded.
Pre-match thoughts of Illan Meslier
“It is very rare to play two times in the same way. It is a second battle and now we play at home we want to beat them.
“We have analysed the first game and are ready. We want to start like we did in the last game so we will be ready to be aggressive from the beginning.
“We want the fans to make a lot of noise because it is important for us to feel they are with us.”
Erik ten Hag on team changes
“One part is rotation another part is tactics. Harry [Maguire] is one for one as Raphael [Varane] has played a lot of games, Harry is a big part of our squad, is ready and training very well.
“If Jadon Sancho is fit and in the right shape then he always has to play, he always has to play because he has magnificent qualities. He is creative and can win football games for you.
“He [Wout Weghorst] has a big part in what Marcus Rashford is doing but we want more box arrivals and finishing. We have to get used to his movements and bring him into the right place.”
Feyenoord’s Arne Slot explains why he will not take Leeds manager job
Arne Slot has confirmed he will not be leaving Feyenoord after Leeds United registered their interest in the Dutch manager.
The Independent reported on Thursday that the 44-year-old was deeply considering the proposal from the Whites to succeed Jesse Marsch at Elland Road after the American was sacked after less than a year in charge.
But Slot was uncertain about the timing to move on, given the Rotterdam club lie top of the Eredivisie and in the chase for a treble.
Feyenoord’s Arne Slot explains why he will not take Leeds job
The Dutch coach said it was a ‘compliment’ that Leeds came calling for his services
Erik ten Hag gives verdict on Manchester United’s rising star Alejandro Garnacho
Erik ten Hag sees Alejandro Garnacho’s emotional side as a strength and hopes the nascent Manchester United teenager starts to contribute more goals.
The 18-year-old has progressed through the ranks since joining the academy from Atletico Madrid in 2020, playing a starring role in last season’s FA Youth Cup triumph.
Garnacho made his first-team debut towards the end of the campaign and endured a bumpy start to life under Ten Hag, who was angered by the teenager’s attitude during the pre-season tour.
But the Argentina youth international won his boss around and made his 22nd appearance of the campaign on Wednesday, when he missed two great chances to score in the 2-2 comeback draw against fierce rivals Leeds.
Erik ten Hag gives verdict on Manchester United’s rising star Alejandro Garnacho
The Manchester United manager was angered by the teenager’s attitude during the pre-season tour but has been impressed with his recent performances
Impact player
Crysencio Summerville has three goals and an assist in his last five Premier League starts. Can he help Leeds defeat Manchester United today?
Radiant Rashford
Marcus Rashford has scored 12 goals in 14 appearances since the World Cup - the most of any player in that period across the top five European leagues.
Leeds’ star man?
Wilfried Gnonto could become the third Leeds player to score home and away against Manchester United, emulating Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Mark Viduka.
He has scored four goals in his last seven games for Leeds across all competitions and will be a threat this afternoon.
Man Utd looking for a clean sheet
All five of Manchester United’s away wins this campaign have been by a single-goal margin and the Red Devils are on a run of five consecutive Premier League games without a clean sheet.
Can Erik ten Hag’s men batten down the hatches this afternoon?
Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag hails ‘unbelievable focus’ of red-hot Marcus Rashford
Erik ten Hag praised Marcus Rashford’s “unbelievable focus” as the forward continues his freescoring form.
The 25-year-old striker has bounced back from his most challenging campaign to date in stirring fashion and has established himself as one of the continent’s in-form players.
Rashford’s rejuvenated form with United earned an England recall and he scored 12 goals in 14 appearances since the World Cup – the most of any player across Europe’s top five leagues in that period.
Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag hails ‘unbelievable focus’ of red-hot Marcus Rashford
The England striker has scored 12 goals in 14 appearances since the World Cup
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